Mine-ventilating system



L. KESSLER MINE VENTILATING SYSTEM Nov. 19, 1929.

Fild Oct. 24. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 19, 1929. L. KESSL ER MINE VENTILATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1927 Patented Nov. 19,1929

' I LoUIs KESSLER, on CHICAGO, init ators MINE-VENTILATING SYSTEM Application filed October 24;, 1927. Serial No. 228,161. 9 i

I The present invention has for its object to produce a simple and novel mine ventilating system that may be easily controlled and be 1 shaft of a mine equipped in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of a fragment of one of the branch flues and the adjacent end of a flexible collecting conduit detachably connected thereto; 'Fig. 3

' is a horizontal section through the mine at one of the levels in which work is being done; Fig. 4 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section, on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 3, of a fragment of my improved system; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper end of the flue, with its protective housing shown in section; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section, on a larger scale, through the upper,

end of the flue. Referring to the drawings, A represent-s the shaft of a mine, and B, G and D passages to different working'levels withwhich the shaft isconnected. As shown in Fig.3, a passage may lead toa roomE out of which fi are open pockets F, G and H, or there may be other pockets or passages opening from the passage B, as indicated at I. It will be understood, of course, that the illustration of the mine is simply conventional, for the purpose of explaining the problems which the present invention is to solve, and themanner of solving them. 7 l The main portions of the various working levels normally contain pure air; the objectionable gases being found in pockets or stub ends. Therefore, while it is my purpose to permit objectionable gases to be removed from any part of a mine, it is particu-' larly intended to make it possible quickly and easily to remove gases from pockets or other spaces 'whichnormally are unsafe I I cause of the presence of such gases] In accordance with my inventiom l provlde a vertical flue lextendingfrom the bot tom of the mine shaft to a pointc'onsiderably above the surface; Lateral pipesQleadfrom the flue into the. various levels ofthemine; therebeing, in the" arrangement shown, one lateral pipe for each. level. In each pipe,

preferably adjacent to the flue,is.an enlarge ment 3 constitutingr a fanzchamber' in which is mounted a suitable fan 4:. These fans are" preferably driven electrically, .each. being governed by a local switch'or controller-5. Thereforeany; or. all of the: fans may be: in operation at one time,.-;or all maybe idle. As illustrated iniFigk 3, the pipes '2 may .be provided with branches, as indicated at Band 6, the number, length, and dispositionof such branches depending: upon the natureof'thefloi cavity at thatparticular level. The pipes-.2,

with their branches, are sealed; but theyaare provided with capped openingshto which flexible collecting conduits may be attached,

so that therewill be no dissipation of the energy of the fans or blowersthrough draw ing in air at points where there are no gases requiring removal. vThe flexible collecting conduits 7 :may consist of sections of'hose each provided at one end with a fitting-" 8, as so best shown in Fig. 2, to beinterchanged with one of'the caps that normally close the open-J ings in the vpipes. The fittings ma'y bein the form of sockets adapted to slip overva tubular neck 9 on, the pipe" and be locked thereto by a simple pin and'bayonet slot joint 10.. TheYfree-end of each flexible conduit is provided with, ajperforated head 11 that will prevent the passageof flame between the interior of the, conduit and the. surroundingspace and willalso prevent large objects from entering the ventilating system.

The pipes are provlded with these, inlets covered by caps 12. at distributed, points along the same, so that there will-always be an inlet opening close enoughto a'pocket fromyvhich gases are to be withdrawn,.to: permit the attachment of a collecting device reaching into such pocket or space.

Since-the gases to. be removedareiof a-loo' v combustible nature, Iprefer to place at the top of the flue a burner that Will'cause these gases to be consumed instead of being discharged into the open air. As best shown in Fig. 6, I have mounted on the upper end, of the flue a small reservoir 13 having in the bottomperforations 14 through which the gases may-rise. The-top or coverjof the reservoir contains a central chamber lehav ing in the bottom an opening 16 and in the top an opening 17 A pipe 18 for supplying gas, extends up beside theupper endzof the flue and is connected to a port 19 that opens into the chamber 15. 1 When gas is flowing i through the pipe 18, it may be ignited in the chamber, 15,-, thereby constiti'itingy a pilot light that will ignite combustible gases driven upwardly, through'the, flue.

v In order toxprevent backfiring through the flue, Iprefer to place in the upper end, be-

View? the reservoir 13, a plurality of 'frustoconical screens 20 Whose'large ends fit tightly in the flue. These screens do not interfere with the, upward travel of the gases, while preventing the flame at the top from igniting the gases below thesc'reens.

The top of the flue may beenclosed within a suitable housing 21'to protect it againstthe weather. v-' a The pipes are preferably made of comparatively; light material. Therefore, to prevent them from collapsing on account of too great'a drop of pressure within the same, Ilprovide eachpipe with asafety valve, prefi erably: located near the fan and on the suctionside of'the fan; whereby, when the pressure in the pipe drops: too low, the safety valvewill open and permitair to be drawn in;

cation.

said pipes near said flue arranged to discharge into said flue, a safety valve in each pipe on the suction side of the corresponding fan to admit air or-gas into thepipe when the pressure in the latter drops below a predetermined value, and gas-collecting means adaptedfto be connected to any one of said pipes.'r i

. In testimony whereof, I sign this specifi- LOUIS KESSLER.

These safety .valvesmaytakeany suitable form In the arrangement shown, as best illustrated in Flg; 4, each valve compr ses a casing 22 that constitutes 'a short section of the pipe; this casinghaving-on one side a dome 23 providedwith a perforated top 2 1. Within the dome i is an outwardly seating valve 25 held closed by aysuitable spring 26. When the pressure in the pipe dropsbelow a predetermined maximiumthe valve opens, thereby preventing the pressure from bec'om 'i'ng low enough to endanger thein'tegrity of said-flue "at various levels, a fan'in each of 

